Gur Emir Mausoleum Tours

Completed in 1404, Gur Emir Mausoleum serves as the final resting place for Timur and two of his sons and grandsons. Timur ordered the construction of the mausoleum for his favorite grandson, Muhammad Sultan, but when Timur died suddenly in 1405, he was interred there as well.

A geometric courtyard surrounds the tomb, which is easily identified by its ribbed azure copula and tiled minaret towers. Each burial place is marked with an ornate carved headstone, while the actual remains are interred in the mausoleum’s basement. Blue glazed tiles, gilt, and painted plaster and onyx cover the interior of the vault, including its dome.

According to local legend, an inscription was found within the sarcophagus of Timur when opened by Soviet scientists in 1941. The inscription read, “Whomsoever opens my tomb shall unleash an invader more terrible than I.” Mere hours later, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union.

Practical Info

One of the best photo ops of the mausoleum is through the portal leading to it.

Explore the historical city of Samarkand with ease from Tashkent on this full-day tour. Depart from your Tashkent hotel and catch a high-speed train to Samarkand. In the company of your guide and driver, set out to see the city. Visit Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Registan Square, Bibi Khanum Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, and Ulugbek Observatory. At the end of the day, return to Tashkent on the train.